Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Faces Growing Tensions and Risk of Conflict

Tension is escalating in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, raising fears of a potential conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea due to divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Key figures have indicated instability, exacerbated by recent dissident actions capturing areas in Tigray. Warnings have been issued regarding the humanitarian impacts of renewed violence in the region.

The situation in Ethiopia’s Tigray region remains precarious, as reports indicate increasing tensions that may lead to a renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. A source confirmed to ACI Africa that while there has been no official comment from Church leaders, concerns about instability are prevalent. Recent cancellations of flights in Tigray further suggest an escalation in tensions.

The region, having suffered from a devastating two-year civil war that concluded in November 2022, is now facing renewed instability. General Tsadkan Gebretensae indicated the potential for war, stating that it could occur at any moment due to the fracturing of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). This split occurred in the wake of the peace agreement, leaving factions at odds with each other and the government.

The TPLF’s division, which includes a faction that governs with Ethiopian federal support and another opposing faction, has heightened fears of conflict. The dissident faction recently captured Adigrat, a key town near the Eritrean border, accusing Tigray’s leadership of compromising regional interests. Moreover, the interim administration’s head, Getachew Reda, has urged for government support against these dissidents.

Reda expressed worry about the Tigrayan population potentially suffering from a war that they do not support. He has suggested external influences may be instrumental in inciting conflict, specifically indicating Eritrea’s involvement. The prospect of renewed violence elicits concern as it could jeopardize previous peace efforts and risk creating further humanitarian crises in the already troubled Horn of Africa region.

Worsening conditions in Tigray could exacerbate existing humanitarian disasters within the region, which is already grappling with crises stemming from conflicts in Sudan and Somalia. Additionally, the potential hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea could unravel the progress made in regional stability, threatening the peace achieved in recent years under Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s leadership.

The tension in Ethiopia’s Tigray region underscores a precarious situation that could further destabilize the Horn of Africa. Recent developments highlight the threats posed by factional divides within the TPLF and external interferences, particularly from Eritrea. Without strategic intervention, there is a significant risk of reigniting violence, potentially leading to catastrophic humanitarian consequences and undoing previous peace efforts.

Original Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com